Spain was the first modern world power in the western world. For three centuries it was the most important colonial power in the world, the most powerful state in Europe and the foremost global power in the 16th century and the greater part of the 17th century. Spanish literature and fine arts, scholarship and philosophy flourished. Spain established a vast empire in Europe, the Americas, and colonies in the western Pacific. Spain's growth and expansion were financed from the riches extracted from its colonies. In particular, the mining of large deposits of silver and some gold in the Americas funded Spain position as a world power. This historical replica coin set, The Wealth of Madrid, presents four examples of silver coins struck by Spain between 1522 and 1776. Coins such as these were used to finance its economies, wars, and colonial adventures. The first coin is a replica 1702 silver Eight Reale cob of Potosi, Bolivia. >From 1546 to the early 19th century, Spain extracted great amounts of silver from Potosi for export to Madrid. Early coinage was made by melting silver into round bars. Pieces of silver were then cut from the bars, weighed, and hand struck into crude round coins. The obverse shows the two ?Pillars of Hercules?. The reverse shows the united arms of Castile and Aragon. These coins were shipped back to Spain on annual Treasure Fleets. The second coin is a 1590, Eight Reale silver coin replica of Phillip II. The obverse shows the crest of united Spain and the crest of Castile and Aragon. The reverse shows Phillip's coat of arms as Hapsburg Emperor. During Phillp's reign, Spain and Portugal united. The new kingdom of Spain became the greatest European and largest colonial world power. The third replica coin is a 1741 silver Eight Reale coin struck in Mexico City. The obverse shows the world between the ?two pillars of Hercules? or Rock of Gibraltar. The reverse shows the coat of arms of Spain. The fourth Eight Reale silver replica shows the portrait of King Carlos III. The reverse shows the crest of Spain. By 1776, the Spanish silver dollars were an accepted standard coin for transactions throughout the western world. Indeed, the Spanish silver dollar was accepted in the United States as legal tender until 1857. You are bidding in the REPRODUCTION section. These pieces are NOT ancient coins. Each coin is stamped 'COPY' on the rim. Payment methods: Seller accepts PayPal. Shipping Methods: buyer will pay $3.00 for regular mail within the United States. International shipping costs are $13.00 for Priority Mail International flat rate envelope. ADDITIONAL COIN REPLICAS ARE FOUND IN MY E-BAY STORE AT http:// stores.ebay.com/warrenscoins.